6th Annual Neches River Life Big Catfish Tournament
Dates: Friday April 10th 7:00am – Saturday April 11th 10:00AM 2026
RAIN, SNOW, SHINE we are fishing! In case of inclement weather use discretion.
No tournament is worth sacrificing your safety!
Weigh In Location : Huntington Centennial Park, TX 75949
***Weigh IN Time: Saturday April 11th @12:00 PM and closes at 2:00PM!*** Y’all
have asked us to push out the weigh in time so here it is.
Stop fishing 10:00am. The extra allotted time gives everyone a little more time
to pack up and still make it to weigh in safely. This will be a polygraph question.
***We will poly graph 1st and draw for 2nd polygraph from 2-10th place and a
3rd if deemed necessary.***
I hate to put this out there but cheating in a tournament of this nature is a felony.
Do what’s right and there’s nothing to worry about : ). Any questions get with me
@ 936-366-0681.
***It is the responsibility of the TEAM CAPTAIN to convey all rules to each team
member. We will randomly draw for which team member that will be polygraphed.***
There will be no excuse for a team member not knowing the
rules.
We are asking for conservation purposes that if anyone wants us to return any
big fish to the river we will have a tank available and will release fish back into
the river.
Ladies team and kids must register, too. Text 936-366-0681 or call if you need a
form. Ladies team can participate in the “all” ladies team tournament and the “big
catfish” tournament, too.
***This year we will be issuing a boat number to each team. Each team will be
responsible for making sure your number is visible on your boat. Number can be
on the boat motor or front of boat. You can spray paint it, or use a sticker
number whatever it takes.***
***Optional- Side pot 2 fish stringer 50.00. 2 fish heaviest stringer DOES NOT
include big fish for “big cat”. Your registered team and side pot total will be a
200.00 if you choose do to this option, if not then fee will be 150.00 for team
registration for “big fish” only***
***Pay scale may go up***
Payout: 1st-10th place TBD
1st – 15th
2 Fish Stringer – CAN NOT include big fish. Any questions call/message David on
this.
1st - 10th TBD
Closer to tournament date we will post all side payouts like biggest blue, biggest
gar, first to weigh in etc.......
We will have some giveaways like usual. If anyone wants to donate something for
the drawing message me.
Kids fishing pole tourney 1-10th One Fish Weigh In for kids. Kids 15yrs and
younger. Kids under 15 does not have to be one of the 3 team participants. No fee
for kids
1st – 10th TBD
Ladies Team
1st – 10th TBD
All State and Federal rules will be observed. Contestants must have a valid
fishing license on their persons. Fishing and boating licenses are the
responsibility of team members.
Fishing tournament boundaries are from Hwy 84 (area) and southern boundary
is the forks of the Angelina and Neches River. No fishing below the forks and no
fishing of the Angelina River. This will be a polygraph question. .
**NO fishing the week of the tournament April 6th through 9th** except to catch
bait.
Registration fee is 150.00 per team or 200 for four person team. One, two, three,
or four person teams with at least one person 18 of age. Four person teams must
use a boat rated for four people and pay an extra 50.00. . . One (1) boat per team.
Needs to be paid a week before tournament late fee pay applies after that. If your
camping on the river need a second boat to carry supplies etc. that is fine, but you
can only fish with one boat per team.
This is a “1” fish weigh in plus the “2” fish stringer so total fish will be 3 if you do
both, if not then just big fish.. We will have other weigh in for for “example” only
- biggest blue, trash fish, gar.... We will give details of these later as we get closer
to the tournament date.
Only Catfish will be allowed to be weighed in. Catfish species limited to Blue Cat,
Channel Cat, or Flathead Cat. No other species of fish are allowed to be weighed
in for the “Big Catfish” or the 2 Fish Stringer side pot.
Only one (1) fish of 12” inches or longer (18” for op) may be weighed in per team
for BIG fish. . Only bring 1 fish to be officially weighed in for the tournament to
the weigh in table, do not bring any more fish than allowed to be weighed in.
Dead fish penalty will be determined later.
Fish can be caught by rod and reel, limb line, pole line, trot line more less any
legal means of catching fish according to state and federal laws. No nets,
telephoning, or dynamite.
Fishing within 5yds (up or downstream) of a competitor’s boat or bank
fisherman, same side of the River, which was first anchored, is prohibited. We
had a few people that were putting their poles right next to someone else’s in our
last tournament let’s respect each other and give at least 10ft - 15ft
If you have existing lines out you CAN NOT use them. Pull lines out of water end
of the day on 4/5 or before and put back out either day of the pre-stage on 4/9
or day of tournament.
***Pre Staging of lines with no hook in water rules till 4/9 @ 7:00am. That
means you are not allowed to put lines out till 4/9 @ 7:00am and “ONLY” then
hooks “CAN NOT” be in the water till 4/10 @ 7:00am.*** this rule is in place for
the working man and allows pre staging of lines with no hooks in water till the
day of tournament morning. Any questions about this message David Holland
tournament director. This will be a polygraph question!***
Any legal bait is allowed.
Legal hook limit
If your fishing with “bank poles” we are limiting each team to 60 bank poles. Any
questions about this call David.
No marking spots with tape, string, ribbon..... till day of prestage 4/9 @ 7:00am
and there must be a line, pole and not just tape or ribbon.
Good sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation are expected of all
individuals and disorderly conduct will be reason for disqualification if
circumstances require. Decision of Tournament Director will be final.
In case of a tie first one to weigh in takes place.
All decisions of the Tournament Director and Committee are final. All protests
must be brought to the attention of the Tournament Director prior to the
conclusion of the tournament weigh-in.
Tournament locations are subject to change due to other tournament
conflicts/river or ramp conditions/weather conditions/etc. Notifications will be
well in advance, and all updates can be found on the Neches River Life 6th
Annual Neches River Life Big Catfish Tournament Facebook page.
If caught cheating, you will be terminated indefinitely from all NRBCT
Tournaments! Any disqualification results in forfeiture of all winnings.
***Let’s make sure we get our fishing tackle taken up after each tournament.
We’ve had some complaints of lines being left out, let’s do our part cleaning up
and make sure we don’t leave lines etc. out.***
CONTACTS: Tournament Director: David Holland 936-366-0681
We will be doing our NECHES RIVER LIFE High School Scholarships also with a
portion of money raised through sponsors and entry fees. More info to come!!!